Mad at Disney?

[dkrause]

I have an upcoming trip with my family starting Feb 1. We go every year but this is the first time for my parents and my sister, neiece and nephew. I am very upset over the refurbishments that are all going on at once. I have no problem the the actual refurbs, but why all at once? (ie moat draining, Splash closed, Crystal Palace closed, possibly WDW RR closed, Whinnie the Pooh possibly being closed, now I was the bridge to Adventure Land closed.....) WTH!!!! This park is going to look like crap. I am just very surprised they would do all of this at once.

Yes, I know I got three free days with my reservation, but I got it last year and there was none of this. Heck, I even got a $250 gift card last year.

I just feel really bad for my family because this will probably be the only trip they ever make to WDW and it is not going to be that magical. You thing they could use all their resources on one project and finish it fast and move on to the next one and only have one thing closed at a time.

Does anyone else feel the same way and does anyone have any specific dates on when some of this stuff will start/end, especially the WDW RR. How can you be in the MK and not hear the sound of the train bell as you are walking?

 

[marni1971]

Feel the same? No. Things take as long as they do, and they are finally being done. I`d be mad that this upkeep is no longer a regular occurence.

The MK has been like this for the past year; it`s the turn of the hub now. All spring and summer Tomorrowland was a wall and tarp city. Whilst the HOP was under tarps. And some of Main St.

Splash closes at this time every year. Fantasyland has been under a movnig tarp program all year. Like I said, it`s the turn of the hub now, and why not do it all at once? The CP Bridge can be worked on at the same time the water is drained. Makes sense. And in the bigger picture, it is just one very tiny part of WDW.

Works of this scale havn`t been seen for decades, nor has the speed they are being done at. Certain things - painting and drying, construction works settling - take as long as nature lets them but the Skyway demo for example took less than 3 weeks from the first hole to the area being clear.

They certainly arn`t doing the whole project all at once. Imagine if every MK project from the past 2 years was all being done this month. That would be reason to complain.

 

[dkrause]

I agree, but this is a lot bigger than the other stuff. I guess I feel that you just dont mess the the castle. That and the moat should be priority number one and they should use all of their resources to get the job done fast. If they put a ton of people in the moat, shovel the crap out, repaint, and refill it; how long could it possibly take. I have worked construction landscaping for a majority of my life and I know it really would not take that long considering I have seen Bob Cat in the moat so I do not think it all going to manual labor.

It just sucks that I am paying $4000 to go do Disney and it is going to look like crap. That is more than 10% of my annual pay and I just want to be happy. Especially since they announced all of this stuff after I have already booked my trip.

 

[DisneyDreamer08]

I actually agree that they should focus a lot more on making sure the castle is perfect (or close to it) at all times. I understand the moat draining is necessary, but is it also necessary to have that gigantic crane up as well? Talk about really ruining everybodys castle pictures. Why can't they set the crane up at night when the park closes, take down some of the Dream Lights, and then take the crane back down right before opening? Seems like doing that for a few weeks (or however long it would take) would be much better than having that hideous crane up at all times.
And I agree that refurbing the moat should be a top priority and should be done as quickly as possible. I was just looking at the pictures on the homepage here and man, does that look terrible!
Right before I read your post I was just thinking how bad I felt for any first timers who were currently there.

 

[marni1971]

Point taken. I guess the company would think if they announced projects like this beforehand they would loose income by people like yourself staying away.

In all fairness, it won`t look like the perverbial though. The hub is the center of the park but it still looks like the hub. If was all a building site like in 2005 when it was rebuilt then fair enough. The best you can do is go to City Hall and politely make your complaints, send an email now, and send a written letter once you return.

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

WDW Guest Communications
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista
Florida 32830-0040

 

[WDW Vacationer]

There is only 1 true attraction DEFINATELY closed-SM.

All of your other issues center around the work on the castle which will result in a better looking castle. They need to set up scafolding around it,so the moat needs to be drained. Have you seen the pictures? It needed to be cleaned anyway.

Remember-refurbs are for you future enjoyment.:wave:

 

[gwhb75]

I don't know...I'm thinking there is never a good time to shut down attractions. Yes, there may be a few more than normal, but that just means that in a few months a lot of things will look better than the did a few days ago. While I get that it sucks for your upcoming trip, if they put it off then it sucks for someone else's trip. I feel your pain though. We were there in September when Space Mountain was closed. But, as I said earlier, there is never a good time to close attractions. Also, there are three other parks. Hopefully you still have a good time (which, once you get there, I'm sure you will).

 

[DisneyCanadian]

Also, keep in mind, the busiest time of year just ended. It's a little bit of a down time at this point and Splash Mountain always closes in the winter time.

 

[wm49rs]

There's never a very good time for WDW to undertake any construction or refurb projects, as we've all seen in the past. Unfortunately, the period between right after New Year's Day and President's Day is seen as the quietest and most opportune time to undertake a lot of projects simultaneously. I am sorry it impacts your trip though....

 

[raven]

Rehabs abound during this time of year since it's slow.

 

[thewhitequeen]

Given Disney is open every day of the year, they have to close the attractions some time. January and February are typically the best times because it is a slower time of year.

Splashmountain is also generally closed during the month of January because it's cold.

 

[Monty]

I've never found the work they do distracting, sure they occasionally shut down a ride I like while I'm there, it can't be helped. But there is so much to do and so many parks, I've never felt that I didn't get my money's worth while I'm there.

 

[MAGICFLOP]

This is the off season. Maybe next years trip you can schedule during the summer or fall, this way less things will be in referb. :animwink:

 

[rct247]

As everyone said, it's the off season, but another thing, the Magic Kingdom isn't going anywhere. It's not like you can do everything anyways, so you're going to want to and will probably plan on coming back.

Everyone has to give and take when they visit. Visit in summer, its hot, crowds, and can be rainy. Visit during Thanksgiving or Christmas and it is crowded. Visit during the off season and you have rehabs. When you factor in holidays, weather, tour groups, rehabs, special event weekends, crowds, etc...you are bound to have something "ruin your vacation".

Magic Kingdom will look busy under refurbishment, but there are lots to still see and do and enjoy. Imagine how you much feel if you were going to California Adventure on the other hand.

 

[rustysgirl]

i feel ur pain! and i really feel bad for the first timers who can't take the traditional castle picture without having a crane in the way! maybe they can edit it out somehow? lol .. but i hope that u still have fun on your trip & i'm sure your family will have fun just the same. good luck :wave:

 

[mcstensrud]

Hey It could look like a Birthday Cake.

 

[BigRedDad]

I can understand the frustration. However, better planning should have been taken. Refurbs often happen during January and February for several reasons:

1. Slower season
2. Colder weather
3. Start of the first quarter
4. Spending increases due to forth quarter's revenue due to mostly peak season
5. In between two peak seasons: Xmas/New Years and Spring Break.

If this is that much of an issue with the trip and making to miserable now, why spend 10% of your annual income to not enjoy a trip? Personally, I would cancel and go somewhere else or reschedule to a time where there is less refurbs: Late April/Early May, September, October.

 

[roadtripper]

Granted you don't really want the crane in your castle pictures, it was kind of neat to see how they actually clean it and do all of the lights (we saw this in August). But, if you plan carefully you can still get a picture with no crane. By the end of the day as they are preparing for the fireworks, the crane comes down...you can get pics then. Or, if you ask your photographer to zoom in, you can get a photo with very little if any of the crane in the shot.

 

[rct247]

You can also perform miracles with Photoshop these days.

 

[Disneykidder]

Although it does suck, I don't think the trip will suck and be any less magical. They do not know what they are missing so it will really be less magical for you.

Just show them all of the wonderful places/parades/restaurants that you love and enjoy and I think they will have a great trip. Don't dwell on what you can't fix. Updates need to happen and being a slow time of the year, there's bound to be a few things that will be less merry than usual.

Just enjoy it and be glad that you will be there because I know I will not and will not be able to get there for a few more years. I am soooo upset over the whole Fantasyland expansion/destruction of Toon Town and will not even get to see it one last time before they rip it from the hearts of us but it sadly is what it is.